Augmentation of the amplitude of electrocardiographic QRS complexes immediately after hemodialysis: A study of 26 hemodialysis sessions of a single patient, aided by measurements of resistance, reactance, and impedance

An increase in the amplitude of electrocardiogram QRS complexes (↑ QRS) with hemodialysis (HD) has been invariably documented, but the relationship with weight loss has varied, and other parameters (ie, hemoglobin, body electrical properties), which could be determinants of ↑ QRS, have not all been evaluated in the same patients. We investigated a patient immediately before and after 26 sessions of HD with measurements of a host of variables. Statistically significant correlations were found only between weight loss and net fluid removed (r = .72, P = .0005), and percentage change in the sums of QRS complexes of all 12-electrocardiogram leads and weight lost during HD (r = .41, P = .038). HD imparts a reproducible ↑ QRS, but variation in all the other intercorrelations can be attributed to the complexity of the procedure and its variable impact on many body parameters.